Terrell Suggs cuts down on Popeye's, cookies

WESTMINSTER, Md. -- A year ago, Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Terrell Suggs tipped the scales at 283 pounds.

It was too heavy and the three-time Pro Bowl defender had a career-worst season with four sacks.

Now, he's 20 pounds lighter.

Suggs has been cutting out junk food, including fried chicken and an old bad habit of eating entire boxes of cookies in one sitting and chowing down on a large pizza.

Suggs changed his diet with the help of team nutritionist Sue James.

“It wasn’t just Popeye’s, it was also Kentucky Fried Chicken,” Suggs said. “It was also the cookies. You know, I did like the cookies. It was kind of a reward. When I started getting the weight down and I reached a certain goal it was like, ‘OK, you can have a cookie.’ She did a good job helping me, especially down the stretch.”

Suggs is noticeably quicker and leaner this year, playing at roughly 263 pounds. Last year, he dealt with a heel injury and sprained his knee during the season on an illegal block from quarterback Brady Quinn.

Signed to a six-year, $62.5 million contract last  year, he would like even lose a few more pounds to get back his NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year form.

"What a difference a year makes," Suggs said. "You know, last year I didn’t get the luxury of participating in training camp. Therefore, I didn’t get to play at my desired weight. But, this year I’m taking the full-fledged advantage of it, and I feel good. I feel really good.”

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